Dan In Real Life (2007)
Dan In Real Life is a upbeat, sentimental movie about a family's quest for happiness, love and sharing. It is not a straight out romance or an over-the-top comedy. It is not a work of art. But if you sit back and relax, you will get a chance to experience the idealized family life we all yearn for.
Storyline:
Dan (Steve Carell) is a family advice columnist with a Boston newspaper. He is beginning to adjust to life (after the loss of his wife in a tragic accident four years earlier) while raising three rebellious daughters, 10, 15 and 17 years of age who are in a hurry to grow up. Things get complicated when he meets Marie (Juliette Binoche) and falls in love with her whom he later discovers is his younger brother's girlfriend. Dan in Real Life is a story of loneliness, the yearning for companionship and the prospect for fulfilled love.
Cast Performance:
It is good to see comedian Steve Carell stretching himself and exploring roles beyond the familiar comedy genre. In this movie he plays an everyman - laid back, sometimes funny and always interesting because he cares for people. The cast does a good job bringing the strong family dynamics to life.
Production Values:
Good production values are consistent with director, Peter Hedges' previous work (Pieces of April). The Rhode Island idyllic house is a perfect setting for Dan's parent's cozy vacation home. Music by Finnish Sondre Lerche may seem intrusive to some but it does set the mood for some of the pivotal scenes in the movie.
Advisory for Children and Objectionable Themes:
Dan in Real Life promotes family bonds and good values though the lead character, Dan does not always follow his own parenthood advice in real life. Love the scenes where the characters express their feelings through music in a naturalistic way. Pete Townshend of The Who's classic "Let My Love Open the Door" is one of the heart-warming moments of the movie. The dance sequences are also superb though this movie is not really a musical. The actors may not be professional dancers, but their dances are the kind that rekindles the evocative dance floor moments in our lives.
The dance sequences uses Prince's song "Nasty Girl" by Inaya Day and "September" by Earth Wind and Fire. These two songs are not featured in the Movie Soundtrack CD.
"Dan in Real Life” is rated PG-13. It has some sexually suggestive situations like scenes of sexual innuendos (but not foul language) and a female character undressing in front of a man (not explicit sexuality).
The movie's positive portrayal of the family makes this a movie parents can watch with their kids and discuss some of the issues in it like teen dating, an underage kid wanting to learn to drive a car and unintentional parental neglect.
As they say, a Family that Plays Together, - sing, dance, laugh and share experiences together - Stays Together.
Runtime: 98 minutes
Studio: Touchstone
Streaming Video from YouTube on full movie trailer of "Dan In Real Life":
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